Earlier this month I posted a tall tree in our neighborhood but noticed a number of different trees on St. Kate's campus that can be seen from our house since our property borders the college's soccer field. Much to the consternation of the neighbors, a number of years ago the college cut down hundreds of trees in order to build their soccer field. The row of trees that were left looked scrubby and sick. Plus we lost many species of song birds and small wild animals. Up to that point St. Kate's had been a wonderful neighbor, but I have held a grudge ever since. These few remaining trees are now enormous and have showy white blossoms that cover the branches from top to bottom. It's a beautiful sight and this is the first year that I have seen them in blossom. It makes up just a tiny bit for the loss of the other trees sacrificed for the soccer field. I've called the gardener at the college to help me identify the species but haven't heard back yet. My google images leads me to believe that it just might be a deciduous tree called a Northern Catalpa.
Beautiful blossoms.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a tree with this flower. Very pretty. Oh I bet it was painful to see the loss of those trees!
ReplyDeleteI would say catalpa as well, there's one just like this down the road from here.
ReplyDeleteHorse chestnut tree, I believe. I bet you have tons of squirrels. ;))
ReplyDeleteWe have catalpa trees here (usually called catawba in the South - both names are acceptable) but I don't believe I've ever seen one bloom. If you take a look at Google Images for the catalpa I believe that's exactly what these blooms look like. But what they're even better known for (as you will also see on Google Images) are the worms that inhabit them. They're considered here in the South as the best fishing worms ever and people actually collect them and put them in plastic bags in their freezers to have them all year long. Can you imagine opening up the freezer to find some meat for dinner and grabbing the wrong bag! Yuck!!!!
ReplyDeleteoh, glad the spindly 'leftovers' showed them! :)
ReplyDeleteit's really pretty! and huge!
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen that kind of blossom here. Very pretty.
ReplyDeleteOne should not cut down trees for a soccer field. Love the tree, whatever it is!
ReplyDeleteWhatever it is, it's simply gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteNice blossoms.
ReplyDeleteI don't know anything about the lost trees, but that surviving tree is a beauty. (Loved your comment about public school teachers . . . I went to a public school for grades 1 - 12 and I can read and write just fine.)
ReplyDeleteWhat a spectacular field! It would lessen the pain of losing the others but I'd be broken hearted if anything drove away our local songbirds and other critters.
ReplyDeleteHow sad that the other trees were cut down. But this one is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIt has lovely blossoms. For about 2 days. The other 363 days of the year, it's a pain in the ass. Our neigbour has one. The blossoms fall and turn into glue on the car, it then develops long seed pods, some of which fall off. Then in autumn..er..Fall.. it drops leaves. If they're dry, they turn to dust. If they're wet, they're like soft wet leather. And then in Spring, the pods slipt, shedding kapok-like fluff all around.
ReplyDeleteGet out your chainsaw, Kate...
Apparently the college cut down the wrong trees! The head gardener did call me and confirmed what you described. He said that it's pretty during the blooming season which lasts only about 2 weeks but the pods are a real mess. In addition, he said that they look really scribbly and terrible as they age. All the beautiful oaks, maples and elms were sacrificed for the soccer field, but the Catalpas remain. Go figure!?
ReplyDeleteThat's a tree tragedy Kate.. They cut down oaks, maples and elms.. I could cry :(
ReplyDelete" In addition, he said that they look really scribbly and terrible as they age."
ReplyDeleteDon't we all...?